The 53-45 vote fell seven shy of the 60 needed to move Cordray’s nomination past a key procedural hurdle, with all but two Republicans voting in favor of a filibuster.

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Moderate GOP Sen. Olympia Snowe of Maine voted “present,” citing a potential conflict of interest because her husband’s work involves student loans that are regulated by the agency. Freshman Sen. Scott Brown (R-Mass.), who most likely will face CFPB architect Elizabeth Warren in a tough election next year, joined all members of the Democratic Caucus in backing Cordray, a former Ohio attorney general.

“I met with him. He seems qualified. … I think he would have done a good job,” Brown told POLITICO. “My vote isn’t dictated on what the [GOP] caucus tries to do.”

During a White House news conference after the vote, Obama wouldn’t rule out using a recess appointment to seat Cordray, though the GOP-controlled House could easily block that effort since the Constitution requires the Senate to obtain approval from the lower chamber when taking more than a three-day break.

“The bottom line is we’re going to look at all of our options,” Obama said. “My hope and expectation is Republicans who blocked this nomination will come to their senses.”

Thursday’s vote leaves the fledgling financial bureau leaderless and unable to carry out some of its basic functions. Without a director, the agency cannot regulate nonbank financial businesses, including payday lenders, mortgage companies and debt collection agencies.

The GOP filibuster also hands fresh ammunition to the White House as it pursues a populist political strategy ahead of the 2012 election, portraying Republicans on the side of Wall Street and Democrats on the side of Main Street.

“Without a director, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau doesn’t have the tools it needs to get the job done, and it’s shocking that despite the economic crash in our rearview mirror, it’s easy to look back and see what happened because of Wall Street greed,” Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) said on the floor before the vote.